antony blinken is meeting with the prime minister of israel benjamin netanyahu. he touched down in tel aviv a couple hours ago and started shaking hands. >> ainsley: and in about 15 minutes we expect with the secretary to meet with the israeli president his name is isaac herzog. we will carry it live when it happens. blinken's visit comes as the biden administration pushes for a pause on the war so they can get humanitarian aid in and the hostages out. >> brian: meanwhile on the battlefield israeli forces come face to face with terrorists and take out a top hamas commander. the idf says forces now have the largest city in gaza surrounded. >> lawrence: today hezbollah's leader is scheduled to speak for the first time since hamas attacked israel. we have fox team coverage with jonathan hunt live in the west bank with israeli forces have been carrying out raids. but, first, let's go to trey yingst who is on the ground in southern israel. trey, what can you tell us? hey lawrence, good morning. we know u.s. secretary of state antony blinken is on the ground. the biden administration is expected to push for a humanitarian pause, trying to encourage the israelis to allow more aid into the gaza strip and some of those foreigners to get out. i do want to show you just behind me what gaza looks like. overnight there was some heavy fighting that took place along the border here with the northern part of the gaza strip. lots of flares launched overnight as the israelis pushed deeper into gaza engaging hamas militants who popped out of tunnels and ambushed the troops. israelis releasing another name of a soldier that was killed this week inside gaza. bringing the total to 24 israeli soldiers killed since the ground push began. we do know they have been using the navy and also the air force to strike different hamas positions with the support of artillery units along the border. and all of that fighting comes, again, as the biden administration is calling for a humanitarian pause. we do know that yesterday there was quite the exchange between john kirby of the national security council and our peter doocy. take a listen. >> a pause does not help hamas. >> a temporary pause that's localized that would allow us to get aid in and to get our people out is a good thing for the people of gaza. it's a good thing for the americans that are being held hostage, and it's not gonna stop israel from defending itself because the security assistance we are providing continues to flow. and a temporary pause doesn't mean a general cease-fire where the war is over. >> trey: peter has important point hamas would be helped by a pause in the fighting. it gives them more time to gather their forces and continue ambushes against israeli troops inside the strip. there will be back and forth expected between israeli leadership and secretary of state blinken. this comes as the fighting readges on in the north. hassan nasrallah is scheduled to speak in public e normally makes video address out of security concerns. but the israelis are bracing for nasrallah to announce a more wider participation by hezbollah in the fighting in the north. and that does come as the israelis keep striking positions in response to attacks against northern israel. guys? >> brian: trey, what's the 3we69 of him announcing it? he was just rocketing israel without announcing it. what else the benefit of him making a formal declaration unless it's something that is going to be a total surprise? what are the indications is he going to say? >> yeah. that's a great point. look, from our perspective, we actually don't think he is going to come out and announce a declaration of are a this would be used another step on the ceas labor relation ladder. last night late in the evening, i was on the call with an idf spokesman and i posed this question. he says the israelis have intelligence that nasrallah will use this speech as an opportunity to at least appear like they are throwing more support behind hamas, the second largest iranian proxy in the region. and then be able -- i just want to step out of the frame here there was airstrike behind me. as we talk about that have my cameraman punch in you can see on the gaza strip. he will likely use this as an opportunity to step up on the escalation ladder. when i asked israelis about this. they pointed to the fact yesterday there was increase in attacks along the northern border and types of weapons being used against israeli forces were more significant than we had seen in the past. traditionally, the past few weeks we have seen hezbollah using anti tank guided missiles and small arms. yesterday they launched suicide drones against israeli positions. and that just shows they have other weapons in their arsenal and they are starting to use them against the israeli forces in the northern part of the country. >> ainsley: trey, how trustworthy are the numbers that are being reported back here in america? because, if you go on social media, you see both sides arguing the numbers and. >> steve: one side big numbers and the other side not so much. >> ainsley: these numbers are coming from officials in gaza. with they be trusted? >> the death toll? >> ainsley: yes. >> trey: we should definitely be critical of the numbers that we're getting from inside gaza. we can report that thousands have been killed in the israeli responses against the gaza strip since october 7th. but to quote an exact number we have to attribute that to the hamas-run palestinian health ministry. i will say traditionally, they have been the only source of information from inside gaza, but there is no way for us to independently confirm those numbers. so we attribute to the hamas run health ministries but remain critical of the specific number of those killed. with that said as well, the palestinians have released a list of every person killed inside gaza but, again, there is no way to independently confirm each and every name on that list. so we remain skeptical of the number. [explosion] >> trey: thousands have been killed in the response by israel southern israel. >> steve: that's right. trey, we split the screen. woe were actually looking at the rafah crossing along with your report. can you see that aid is coming in. so, it sounds like blenk is talking to netanyahu to get people in and some people out of gaza. one of the things he is pressuring netanyahu for is to get -- to allow israel to allow some more fuel into gaza but, of course, the fuel can be used for rockets and so far israel has said no. is there any chance is he gonna say okay, sure, they need it for the hospitals, let's give them some gas? >> trey: in terms of fuel entering the gaza strip, what we have heard from israelis is very simple, no. they are not going to allow fuel to enter gaza. with that said, is there some sort of deal that could be cut behind the scenes to allow some fuel n exchange for hostages? in that case maybe they would bend a little and allow some fuel to go into gaza. we should be clear if fuel goes into gaza, inevitably hamas will take it to fuel their generators that they use to pump air into the tunnels underneath the strip and provide air conditioning for the hamas leadership that is hiding beneath gaza. that's why the israelis don't want to provide fuel. it's not that they don't want the palestinian civilians to have fuel in order to survive. they understand that hamas will siphon some of that fuel, if not the majority of it off and use it for their own efforts to continue the war. >> lawrence: trey, it's clear that the leader of hezbollah wants people to know that he is alive. he wants to recruit. it goes for the same for hamas as well. the big question is we see the impact here at home. we see the protests, the people that are rallying behind that movement. but i'm curious on the ground, the actual fighters that they're trying to recruit, how is that going on the ground? do you see more men coming out in support that are sympathetic of hezbollah, sympathetic of hamas, or is there anger at the leaders? >> trey: that's great question. i found the clip we referenced yesterday that i spoke on "fox & friends" about a mother inside gaza and we weren't able to confirm if it was her child or one of her relatives but she was there in front of a body of someone who was killed in an israeli airstrike. and she was screaming out those hamas dogs, they did this. this is their fault. and someone comes into the frame and puts a hand over her mouth as to not let her say any more negative things about hamas. but it gives you a sense that even palestinian civilians inside gaza understand they wouldn't be here today if it weren't for that massacre on october 7th. so there is definitely growing frustration. we also know we can't confirm the exact number, but we know that tips provided to israelis after a leaflet drop inside gaza, they were encouraging people to provide information to help israeli war efforts inside the strip. that's one support of this equation. the other part is hezbollah in southern lebanon. and there are reports that indicate iranian militias, iranian backed militias from places like iraq and syria are starting to push their fighters into southern lebanon in preparation for this to expand. and so iran has tentacles as it's been described before across the middle east. they are trying to push the meter as much as possible here to see how deeply they can get involved. they are playing with fire. israelis only using a portion of their air force against gaza. they have maintained a lot of fire power that they could use against iranian regime if it does come to it. >> brian: yep. they are behind everything. trey, thanks so much. >> lawrence: thanks, trey. >> ainsley: to the north israeli forces involved in deadly raids in the west bank. >> steve: let's go to jonathan hunt who is live on the ground in ramallah, which is one of the territories controlled by the palestinians. jonathan, we know it's hard to get in and out of gaza is it hard to get in and out of the west bank? >> no, frankly for us, it is not that difficult at all, steve. but the great concern is here, the protests, the pro-hamas protests are growing much stronger throughout the west bank. now, overnight, there were clashes between palestinians and israeli forces, nine pales palestinians across the west bank with killed. that brings close to 140, by some counts, the number of palestinians killed in the west bank since october 7th. and there have been something like 1500 or so arrests of palestinians made. all that is feeding into growing frustration here, growing anger here. growing support for hamas. now, we are just afternoon on friday here which means the mosques are at the west bank ramallah are full. it's friday prayers. their traditional day of prayer. that also has always become the traditional day of protest, too. and authorities here are, in israel are expecting that some of the biggest protests we have yet seen in the west bank. we will shortly be moving towards -- we believe one of those protests will be gathering. bring that to you the next hour. there is great concern here. i speak to politically connected people here, steve. and what they are telling me is that if there was an election here now, the much more moderate palestinian authority would be kicked out and they believe hamas would win an election in the west bank. just imagine how terrifying a thought that is. how terrifying a phrase that is to say to any israeli. we are also hearing talk that islamic jihad is becoming a stronger and stronger force particularly in the northern part of the west bank, around places like jeanine where we have seen some of the most intense clashes between palestinians and the idf. if islamic jihad is growing in power here. if hamas is growing its support here it is of great concern for israel. politically, the future is of great concern. today, the potential protests are of great concern. steve, ainsley, brian, lawrence? >> brian: jonathan, real quick, anyone who says two-state solution like the president of the united states. it would be in the west bank. and what country, what sane country would say it would be okay to let a terrorist nation form on the west bank? >> i will tell you, this briefly, brian. i have been coming to israel for some two decades or so now and to the palestinian territory in the west bank and in gaza. i have spoken to a lot of the moderate people who have always talked about pa two-state solution. particularly in israel now that is very much not a subject of conversation for anybody. they cannot make peace. they cannot even think about a two-state solution, obviously, with hamas. so if hamas were eventually to come to power in the west bank, then, yeah, it's absolutely off the table as far as every single israeli is concerned. so the political path forward is fraught right now, brian. nobody knows what shape that might take. that's one of the problems. one of the things this secretary of state antony blinken wants to talk to the israeli government about. somebody has to start coming up with ideas for what comes next. now, is that going to be an international peace keeping force in gaza? quite possibly. would that involve u.s. troops on the ground? quite possibly. so there's a lot of scenarios being discussed, none of them very good at the moment though, brian. >> brian: thanks, jonathan, appreciate it. >> steve: he just mentioned secretary of state anthony blinken as you can see in the corner of the screen right there, we are expecting him. he could pop n about a minute. and as soon as he comes out to announce what he and netanyahu talked about, we will take you there, live. meanwhile, let's go down to washington real quick, as predicted the house of representatives, under republican leadership voted to give the israelis military funding to the tune of about $14 billion. it does not include humanitarian aid or assistance for gaza. it's interesting. before the vote, the white house was actually calling jewish democrats urging them to vote no. but ultimately at the end, and you just saw on that scoreboard, 12 democrats voted with the republicans; however, two republicans voted no as well. >> ainsley: thomas massi and marjorie taylor greene said no. it will cut funding from the irs. remember the irs got the $80 billion boost during the inflation reduction act? and kevin mccarthy, his debt limit deal stripped a little bit of money away from the irs. but they still have 67 billion. the speaker, the new speaker, mike johnson said the irs has the largest pile of money, so this makes sense fiscally to take it from them. >> steve: but the white house said it's a bad idea. and joe biden has threatened to veto it. he said it's a bad idea if you're going to get emergency money by cutting some money somewhere else because if it's an emergency, you need the money right now. >> lawrence: i think most americans don't like the irs. it was the easiest thing to do to get american support. i think the other thing, brian, that the president is upset about is that it didn't have ukraine funding. he wanted to put all these bills together to get one package. although the president has been able to make the case for the support of israel, he hasn't been able to make the case to the american people on why we should continue to fund ukraine. and this is on the heels of even information coming out from zelenskyy's administration of corruption and apparently they have been spending the money like crazy in ukraine. it's not for the war. >> brian: they do have to put some -- find out how it is being spent. you cannot let ukraine die on the vine. generations will pay the price. but having this 14 billion, democrats are floating an idea. they think they would get the republicans' that is on the border. floating proposals to change the asylum rules and maybe bring it up remain in mexico and getting some money and some changes. there is there anything more important in our country than getting our southern border under control? and, believe it or not, you would think it's in the president's interest to do this anyway, not as a favor to republicans that's what they're putting out there. they know these democratic mayors went to see him yesterday. they have the same complaints as republicans. that is my cities are overwhelmed. your policies are absolutely awful. we have no money to take care of these people. what the hell are you doing? so they putting together a package to entice republicans to expand the package a little bit. it's dead in the senate. and the president says he will veto it. i don't know where it goes from here. >> ainsley: senate wants aid for ukraine in there as well. >> brian: why is marjorie taylor greene against this and thomas massie? >> lawrence: i understand thomas massie he is a spending hawk. >> steve: he is all about the money. >> lawrence: he has been consistent. >> brian: it's paid for. >> lawrence: nothing is paid for if we have debt going on. >> brian: they already put the money aside. >> lawrence: i'm not surprised but marjorie i am surprised. >> ainsley: that happened in d.c. yesterday. we will continue to talk about that. but also in d.c. they will have the largest palestinian solidarity march in u.s. history tomorrow. it's going to take place here in washington. so we're going to be watching that also in new york city, there was a pro-palestinian protest here in the street. and they were taking the -- look at that, the israeli flag and lighting it on fire. one guy bent down to pick it up, and he was kicked by someone like that. someone wearing a complete mask. couldn't tell who it was. they are yelling, free, free palestine. crumbling up the kidnap signs and throwing it at the pro-israel protester. >> that's as they burn the israeli flag on the streets of new york city. it's interesting. yesterday, and we have been talking a little bit about these people on college campuses who are ripping down the ransom pictures. of the hostages. and, in fact, here in new york, there were some pro-israeli protesters standing guard in front of the missing pictures -- missing people's pictures. then, let's take you down to-that's the the amtrak station philadelphia. there is a gigantic sit-in and demonstration at the peak of rush hour. so people didn't get home in time. inside 300 people sat down to demand a cease-fire. and then about 7:00 last night, people started to block all of the entrances to a major artery. and the theme at all of these protests is there must be a cease-fire. there has got to be a cease-fire. but the united states and israel both saying no. there might be a pause, but there is not going to be a cease-fire. >> brian: also have to say with hillary clinton yesterday she was speaking at columbia. she had people walk out when she said there should be no cease-fire. you have to continue. if you give a pause, hamas benefits from. that will do not stop. i cannot believe it. i agree 110% with hillary clinton. >> ainsley: day too. i was shocked. >> brian: admiral kirby is ridiculous, you will see this later, comments to peter doocy, and is he a military guy trying it to split the difference between a cease-fire and a pause. there is no difference. it benefits hamas. they have encircled gaza city. let them finish the job. but these columbia students to show you what the democrats have done. they have radicalized their base to such a point that they are actually turning on democrats, that's the latest example. >> lawrence: brian, that's why the president couldn't stand firm. it was a protester that asked the president the question. admiral kirby knows better. is he pinning for the president right now. if you go to salon right now. this is the headline. maga and christian nationalism is a bigger threat to america than hamas could ever be. >> steve: i saw that. >> lawrence: this is the type of